Last weekend, I checked another state off my visited-states list: Indiana! My brother Kevin just moved to Evansville for a new job – he’s been there about three weeks now. He found an apartment, so my parents and I drove up with his furniture, helped him move in, and got to know the area a little. The word I find myself saying most when describing Evansville is “nice.” It’s just… nice! :) It’s large enough to have everything you need, but it doesn’t feel congested or overcrowded, and nothing is further than ten minutes away. Kevin’s apartment is literally across the street from most of the major stores you can think of, but it also backs up to a bean field.
Kevin’s boss told us to go out for a nice dinner and add it to his moving allowance. So we went to Bonefish Grill. There’s a Bonefish here, but I had never been (it’s expensive!). Well, IT WAS AMAZING. My mom and I shared a black cherry mojito, we all shared the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer, and I had stuffed tilapia with potatoes au gratin. It was the most delicious meal I’ve had in a long time. Anyone want to start going there with me? I hear the Bang Bang Shrimp is only $5 on Wednesdays!
The highlight of the trip was a baseball game at the stadium where A League of Their Own was filmed! It’s the third oldest baseball stadium in America. We had “box seats” through Kevin’s work, but “box” there means the front section. Also, if you want refreshments, someone gets them for you. Swanky!! The game itself was so-so, but the entertainment between innings was hilarious. I think this game will be a family joke for a looooooong time:
Yes. That is a giant pink intestine.
We also visited downtown Evansville (although everything was closed because it was Sunday), and the next town over, Newburgh. If I moved to the area, that’s where I’d want to live! They have a beautiful historic riverfront. The riverfront downtown looked nice too (there I go with the “nice” again!), but it was more, you know, downtowny.
I’m sure this was only the first of many trips to Hoosier country. I look forward to exploring it more in the future!
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Travel Thursday will return next week… for now, here’s the June book list! In writing this up, I noticed that the unintentional theme of this month (at least 4/5ths of it) is Realistic Fiction. All of these stories involve tough or sad situations and/or people who disappoint you… just like real life. I guess that’s good. I certainly can’t be accused of escapism. :)
Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
After four Sisterhood books, reading this ten-year follow-up was like visiting old friends. The adults Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby turned out to be, and their reactions to what happened, seemed so real. I felt like I was experiencing their tragedy right along with them. I read this book in one evening because I couldn’t do anything until I found out how it all ended (satisfyingly!). I remember Jenn
When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer
This novel is (mostly) set in Miami and is about a dancer who joins a drum corps! Could more of my favorite things BE in one book? It’s well done, but it was a darker, more intense story than I was expecting, with a shocking end. The characters are multidimensional – likable, but prone to bad decisions. (Also, the eternal marcher in me is still wondering how the Raiders retooled their show in time for finals. :))
We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
In this last book in the Summer trilogy, Belly has to make a final choice between brothers Conrad (her first love) and Jeremiah (whom she’s now been with for two years). I obviously liked it, since I finished it in one afternoon, but the impossibility of Belly’s situation made me uncomfortable. I just felt bad for her and everyone involved. I think the story ended the right way, but not without a lot of pain and scars.
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
When Ginny (of 13 Little Blue Envelopes) hears from the stranger in possession of her last mysterious letter from her aunt, she embarks on another European adventure. I loved this as much as the first Envelopes book! I liked the fact that it wasn’t exactly a fairy tale ending, but happy nonetheless. :) I really wish there were more Ginny books!
The Girl Who Was On Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy, ed. Leah Wilson
A collection of essays about The Hunger Games from 13 current YA authors. I enjoyed the very different perspectives. My favorite by far was “Your Heart Is a Weapon The Size of Your Fist,” about love as a political act. :)
Books for June: 5 (I’m amazed it’s that many, considering how busy I was)
2011 year to date: 40
Add a Comment + Posted in: book reviews, reading
One of my favorite summer treats is Peach Surprise. I made it many times last summer (usually on Thursday nights after yoga, for some reason), and while it was always delicious, it never looked like it was supposed to. The meringue didn’t brown, the ice cream leaked out, and I was as messy as a toddler when I finished eating it.
While making my first Peach Surprise of 2011 last week, the peach turned to mush when I pitted it. Rather than get frustrated at myself, I just decided that trying to produce a photo-worthy result was pointless, and there had to be a better way. So I present my adaptation:
Baked Peaches Alaska
Serves 2-4
Ingredients:
2 large peaches, pitted
2 large egg whites (at room temperature)
Pinch of kosher salt
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
½ cup vanilla ice cream
Directions:
1. Place 2-4 large ramekins in the freezer for at least 10 minutes (though you can obviously do this way ahead of time).
2. Preheat oven to 450° F.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt on medium until foamy. Increase speed to high. Gradually add the sugar, a little at a time, and beat until stiff and glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the almond extract.
4. Place a whole peach (if serving two) or half a peach (if serving four)* into each ramekin. The state of the peach (whole, sliced, etc.) is up to your preference and its willingness to cooperate. :) Spoon the ice cream on top of the peach, or into the cavity if you have halves. Mound the meringue on top, being sure to enclose the ice cream.
5. Place ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake until the meringue is golden brown, 2-5 minutes. Serve immediately.
* = The original recipe indicates one peach half per person, but I have to believe that’s just for aesthetics. If you want a whole peach, by all means have it. I refuse to feel piggy about eating an entire fruit. :)
As you can see, my meringue still didn’t brown (but it was still delicious). Anyone know what I might be doing wrong? Maybe it’s my 33-year-old oven?
PS: I must include a picture of the real Peach in my life: :)
3 Comments + Posted in: cats, food, summer
On my way home from yoga class last week, the sun was just setting and the very air was summery. I couldn’t get over how great the light was, and I spontaneously stopped at the water tower and train tracks to take some pictures:
Then I noticed a small, old-looking cemetery across a little street from the church where I had parked. I’ve lived in this area for almost five years and had never seen it before. Although it’s probably weird to want to wander around an old graveyard on a summer night, I was irresistibly drawn to it.
Historical jackpot: it was established in the 1830s!
Several Confederate soldiers are buried there. I don’t know about you, but history becomes very real to me when I see stuff like this. Especially right in my own backyard.
I noticed one new-ish grave, and had to document these LONG lives – and the fact that the husband outlived the wife by almost 13 years. That doesn’t happen very often.
The whole experience had a very Beautiful Creatures feeling about it. It reminded me that there is a sort of nameless magic in the South. Again, I’m sure this is weird of me, but I could imagine generations of kids playing in that graveyard, and scaring one another, and later sneaking out to meet their boyfriends or girlfriends there. The place felt full of stories. For that reason, I plan to visit once in a while. Maybe one of those stories will choose me.
2 Comments + Posted in: memphis
I’m increasingly interested in travel, so this is a new feature about various travel-related topics. :) Today, inspired by a post from my friend Maria, I’ll discuss my favorite travel-related books! Not travel guides (although I do flip through a Fodor’s now and then to learn more about a place).
My favorite travel book – and one of my favorite books in general – is The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. He’s a correspondent for NPR. In each chapter, he travels to one of the statistically happiest countries in the world to understand why its people are so happy. He also goes to the unhappiest country. If you want to know what countries they are, you’ll have to read the book! It’s uplifting and, above all, fascinating.
Julie and Julia inspired me to read Julia Child’s memoir, My Life In France. I’m pretty sure this book was the kickoff to my current fascination with expat life (which will be the subject of another TT post).
Bill Bryson was born in the US, but lived in England for many years, and has spent notable time in many other places. Every time I see one of his books at thrift, I buy it, but I haven’t read them all yet. My favorites are In A Sunburned Country (Australia) and A Walk In The Woods (the Appalachian Trail).
I love Peter Gethers’ trilogy of memoirs about his incredible cat, Norton. The second book, A Cat Abroad, covers the year they lived in the south of France. Although far too much rabbit is eaten (with gusto) in this book, it’s otherwise wonderful. :)
Travel is only part of Nicholas Sparks’ memoir, Three Weeks with My Brother. The story of a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world with his brother is intermingled with the history of their family. As you might expect with Nicholas Sparks, it’s all very dramatic – I mean, the family stuff is practically the Book of Job. But it’s compelling.
As I said in my May review, Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes (and its sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope) is about a teenager’s madcap trip through Europe. It’s lots of fun and made me regret that I never did the European backpacking/youth hostel thing.
Sometimes I feel like a walking advertisement for the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. I mention them almost every time someone asks me for book recommendations. They’re set in and around Gaborone, Botswana, Africa. I have to admit I was never very interested in Africa until I read these books, but Botswana is as strong a character as Mma Ramostwe and Mma Makutsi – and I admire its spirit and heart!
I also reviewed Anna and the French Kiss recently – it’s a wonderful modern YA romance set in Paris. I dare you not to want to visit Paris after reading this!
What other travel books should I put on my to-read list?
3 Comments + Posted in: book reviews, reading, travel